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Steve Victory JOURNAL – SEC Campaign 2016
Things really turn bleak for Alabama when the Tide drops its first two SEC games of 2016 – 83-62 to Ole Miss (lots of people foul out) and 79-71 to LSU.
That leaves ‘Bama at 7-9 overall, with a date against Mississippi State looming next. MSU is currently ranked #1 in the nation! Coach Victory’s pretty discouraged, but a few tweaks here and there with lineups and sliders lead to the biggest upset of his career.
Michael Slater, Cliff McWilliams and Travis Williams make for a mean guard rotation, and the Tide win 84-81 at home! Fans storm the court, and Victory rides off on the shoulders of his players, knowing that triumph alone may have saved his neck. It’s the first time in his career, he’s ever beaten a #1 team (scrapbook clipping time).
Fortunately, the roll continues for ‘Bama as they next knock off #25 Georgia on the road 79-67 (McWilliams 25 points). Then Arkansas falls 97-66 as McWilliams (22 points, 8 assists) and Henry (21 points) lead the way. Vanderbilt is the next victim, getting pounded 85-46. Williams pumps in 32 points. Who are these guys?
Alabama goes on to win eight of its next 10 games to finish a surprising 12-4 in the SEC – the third-best record in the league behind MSU and Vandy. Mississippi State got revenge in a big way (98-60) on its home floor and Tennessee tripped the Tide 77-73. But ‘Bama rolled over some decent foes like Kentucky, Florida, South Carolina, LSU and Ole Miss.
The four-game win streak to end the regular season — playing without PG Michael Slater who broke his hip against MSU and is out for the year (arrggghhhh!!!!) — raises the Crimson Tide’s overall record to 19-11. Alabama magically appears on the bubble list for the NCT! Who would have thought that when the Tide was carrying a 7-9 record? Nice job by the youngters and the few remaining old guys.
Victory believes his squad has enough quality wins – including the big upset over the #1 MSU Bulldogs – to get in, but he knows the Tide could help its own cause in the SEC tournament. “We need to win at least one or two games to lock up a berth,” he tells Jeff Wilt of the Tuscaloosa News. “Of course, we’d love to run the tables and sail into the NCT as the SEC champ.”
That will be tough, even as the number three seed, considering both guards who started the season (Bell and Slater) will be on the bench with injuries. The reserves, Williams and McWilliams, fortunately are upperclassmen, which tends to give teams an edge in the post-season…
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